trapped-puppy-rescued-drain-pipe-video-015956530–abc-news.html

A one-month-old puppy that was trapped in a Detroit drain pipe was saved by rescuers, who carefully listened for the puppy’s squeals through a stethoscope, in an elaborate rescue effort that has since gone viral online.

The Michigan Humane Society, a non-profit group that responds to about 3,000 animal rescue calls a year in the city of Detroit, posted video of the incredible rescue on YouTube Thursday.

The 4-week-old puggle-doxen mix wandered away from its mother, through a basement grate of his owner’s home in west Detroit and into the underground drain pipe, the humane society said. The emergency rescue department received a call on the morning of Feb. 9 that the dog had been stuck in the pipe overnight.

“I couldn’t see the puppy. I could hear it,” Chris Ouwerkerk, the emergency rescue driver who was first at the scene, said in the video. “I called the shelter, you know, let them know what was going on. They called other people to see what they could do.”

Plumbers rushed to the scene and placed cameras into the pipe to try to see the puppy’s location. Rescuers realized that the pipe emptied just outside the basement, so they brought in an excavator to dig through five feet of earth to try to save the lost puppy.

“He’s right there, about three feet back,” a team member said in the video. “Come on, baby.”

“There he is,” another said, pulling out the pint-sized pooch from a crevice in the ground and lifting him up to safety.

The dog was brought to a Detroit animal shelter, where animal cop Debby MacDonald said he was in better-than-expected shape, just “cold and dehydrated.” And according to the Michigan Humane Society, the dog is now reunited with its mom and doing well.

http://news.yahoo.com/mcdonalds-pulls-ad-pit-bull-owner-outrage-005633225.html

McDonald’s has apologized and pulled an ad that came back to bite it.

The ad said eating a Chicken McBite was less risky than petting a stray pit bull, shaving your head, naming your son Sue or giving friends your Facebook password. It enraged pit bull owners and their supporters.

The radio ad for Chicken McBites only ran for a few days in the Kansas City area before the complaints started. The campaign against the ad circulated on social media sites, and the apology was delivered the same way. People who called a well-publicized toll-free number got a recorded apology.

“The ad was insensitive in its mention of pit bulls. We apologize. As soon as we learned of it, we tracked the source and had the local markets pull the ad immediately. We’ll do a better job next time. It’s never our intent to offend anyone with how we communicate news about McDonald’s,” Ashlee Yingling, spokesman for McDonald’s Corp., said Monday, quoting from the apology.

“I found it extremely offensive and reckless,” said Rachele Lizarraga of Sacramento. “Why would you try to promote the safety of food?”

Lizarraga, who owns a pet-sitting business and is social media coordinator for Chako Pit Bull Rescue, started a Facebook page called “Pit Bulls Against McDonald’s,” launched an online petition calling for an end to the ad and started one of many Twitter threads.

Many of the 8,200-plus people who liked the Facebook page said an apology wasn’t enough — they wanted a donation to some pit bull organizations and a McDonald’s ad featuring a pit bull.

Others thought the apology was enough.

“We are just asking them to promote positive pit bull imagery. We are not asking for donations. I don’t think that should be a demand,” Lizarraga said.

“It was stupid marketing, playing into the media hysteria about pit bulls,” she added.

“The McDonald’s response was immediate, unambiguous and apologetic — not sure what more anyone could ask. I’ll soon be ordering those McBites, and likely lovin’ it,” radio host and syndicated pet columnist Steve Dale wrote Sunday.

The campaign against the ad built swiftly and fiercely Friday. Then the ad disappeared, except on YouTube and online.

It was not a national radio ad, Yingling said. “Working with the local market, we took immediate action to pull the ad and apologized for the mistake. Again, it’s never our intent to offend anyone,” she said.

She did not say if McDonald’s would be making any pit bull rescue donations or making an ad with a pit bull.

“I am pleased that they pulled the ad after their customers spoke out about it. Not all companies listen so closely to their customers so I appreciate that they did — and so quickly,” said Stephanie Filer, communications manager for the Animal Rescue League of Iowa and a member of ARL Pit Crew Club.

She posted an illustration, showing a box of McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets and a pit bull laying on its back with the caption “Which is safer? Eating this? Petting this?”

She also posted a photo of herself and her pit bull named Freedom with a word bubble describing the ad. It read: “Hey McDonalds — I created an ad on Facebook that went viral today, on behalf of the ARL Pit Crew Club because my pit bull was a STRAY.”

Laura Goldman, senior social media writer for ilovedogs.com, was one of the first to post about the ad. Friday was the second highest traffic day ever on their website, said Goldman, who has two rescued pit bulls of her own.

http://news.bestfriends.org/index.cfm?page=news&mode=entry&entry=48004EB6-ECA0-6229-6919177397D242B6

Seven years ago, a kitten named Smokey came to Best Friends looking for a fresh start on life. And, boy, did she deserve one. Smokey was long overdue for some kindness.

Horrifically, before Smokey came to Best Friends, a child had lit a firecracker up her backside. A resulting surgery in Kansas removed part of Smokey’s colon and saved her life, but Smokey ended up incontinent from the incident. She also sustained a leg injury.

The road to better health

Since the incident, Smokey has come so far in many different ways. “As time passed, she improved,” explains Best Friends feline vet tech Della Wallace. She’s also learned to love people whole-heartedly, and, icing on the cake, she recently found her forever home. Smokey has so many reasons to celebrate.

                                                                                                                                                         Smokey

In one respect, though, Smokey’s health took a step back. Her leg injury continued to bother her, so she started walking on the hock instead of the ball of her foot. This threw her spine out of alignment and caused other problems, such as leg sores. In the end, Smokey needed leg surgery to fuse her leg and force her to walk on her foot again.

Physical therapy works wonders

After the surgery, Smokey needed long-term physical therapy. Ever the fighter, Smokey did her part to get better. “She’s very strong-willed,” points out Della, one of the main people involved in helping Smokey through physical therapy. In time, Smokey’s routine included three walks a day.

Smokey loved her strolls outside, and something interesting happened during these walks. “She really perked up,” says Della. What really caught everyone’s attention, though, was when Smokey started digging holes in the sand to do her business outside. Either her incontinence improved or she started caring more, or both. Whatever the reason, Smokey regained continence with time. “She’s just an amazing kitty,” Della says.

When Smokey’s six months of physical therapy ended, caregivers and volunteers helped her keep up her daily walks in her new cat building. Things kept getting better, and they were about to lead Smokey down Happy Ever After Lane.

Linda Bengstorm of Salt Lake City, Utah, came to Best Friends looking for a cat to adopt. She’d been cleared for adoption, so it was simply a matter of finding the right match. Smokey volunteered for the job the moment she met Linda. “She’s so sweet,” says Linda. “This cat has been through so much.”

What it’s all about

Though Linda had a short list of other cats she considered, Smokey won out in the end. Once word got out that Smokey was heading home, every cat caregiver at Best Friends rushed over to say goodbye and wish her well. Linda jokingly wondered if they could bear to let Smokey go since they obviously loved her so much. “This is what it’s all about,” they reassured Linda.

Back home, Smokey is making the most of her happy ending. “She settled in right away,” Linda says.

Seven years ago, Smokey got the fresh start she needed. And now, she’s found another. So how does Smokey feel about life these days? “All you have to do is touch her,” Linda says, “and it turns her purr switch on

Happily ever after

http://news.yahoo.com/nj-steel-pier-drops-plan-diving-horses-return-213747295.html

The Diving Horse has finally been put out to pasture for good.

The owner of Atlantic City’s Steel Pier says he’s dropping a plan to bring back the legendary attraction, which featured a horse and a rider plunging into a 12-foot-deep water tank from a platform 40 feet in the air, after animal-welfare activists lodged fierce criticism. The act ran on the pier from the 1920s to the 1970s.

Anthony Catanoso, whose family owns the historic pier, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he’s no longer interested in reviving something that helped make the pier world famous in the last century.

“We just felt that since Atlantic City is moving forward, we should move forward with it,” he said. “We should create new memories for visitors instead of recreating old ones.”

Catanoso revived the act once before, in 1993, but shut it down after two months following similar protests from animal-welfare activists.

He had envisioned the Diving Horse as the centerpiece of a refurbished Steel Pier, part of an overall makeover of the gambling resort being planned by local and state officials. He downplayed the significance of public opposition in the latest decision to pull the plug on the Diving Horse but acknowledged that the protests did take their toll.

“That negativity — we didn’t want that to interfere with the positive things we’re trying to do,” he said.

Roseann Trezza, executive director of the Associated Humane Societies in New Jersey, said she was delighted with the change in plans.

“You have people trying to make a buck off the backs of animals, and it’s really cruel exploitation,” she said. “Everybody worked together against that, and I am so happy to see that happen.”

Catanoso proposed reviving the act earlier this month when a massive redevelopment plan for Atlantic City’s Boardwalk, casino district and shopping areas was unveiled. But within days, animal-welfare activists were voicing opposition.

The Humane Society of the United States said its members “emphatically oppose equine diving acts.”

“This is a merciful end to a colossally stupid idea,” society president Wayne Pacelle said. “We are pleased so many citizens spoke up and urged that this spectacle never get off the ground. Horse diving has the potential to frighten and injure and kill horses, and it rightly belongs in Atlantic City’s history books.”

A petition against the act on the website change.org garnered 10,000 signatures in one day.

Catanoso said he extensively researched the act, including speaking with past performers. In a press release announcing his intention to bring back the act earlier this month, he determined that no horse was ever harmed.

“Through this research, we determined there was no animal cruelty or abuse that occurred in the past,” he wrote. “The new act will be humane, provide the horses first class care, operate under modern safety standards to protect both the riders and the horses and will not subject the horses to cruelty. We understand and share the community’s concern regarding the inhumane treatment of animals. For the past 20 years, we have been dedicated to providing wholesome family entertainment in Atlantic City. We are committed to that goal and would never feature any act that would mistreat an animal.”

Protesters had been trying to organize a demonstration at the next meeting of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority to protest the inclusion of the Diving Horse in a redevelopment plan for Atlantic City, the nation’s second-biggest gambling market after Las Vegas.

Although the Diving Horse was the most attention-getting aspect, the Steel Pier is undergoing a $100 million renovation that will take 3 1/2 years and will make it a year-round attraction. Some work is already under way. This summer, there will be six new rides, several new games, beer gardens, new food and beverage kiosks and a resurfacing of the pier floor.

The photo below was taken in 1993 by Charles Rex Arbogast

http://By Kelly Yamanouchi, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, February 15, 2012

More pets died on Delta Air Lines than on any other carrier last year, according to data released by the federal government.

Out of 35 pets that died on airlines last year, 19 died on Delta flights. That’s up from 16 the previous year.

Delta said it carries more pets than many other airlines, in part because of its broad route network. The number of pets that are injured or die on the airline is less than 0.2 percent of pets carried, Delta said.

Many carriers such as AirTran and Southwest don’t carry pets as checked baggage in the cargo hold. Some pets also are transported in the cabin as carry-ons, but the deaths were all in the hold.

“The loss of any pet is unacceptable to us,” Delta spokesman Anthony Black said. “We are working to improve the processes and procedures to ensure that every pet arrives safely at its destination.”

One of Delta’s latest changes came in December, when it stopped accepting snub-nosed dogs or cats as checked items. Delta already had banned American, English and French bulldogs from flying. That came after a sharp increase in the number of animals that ran into trouble on Delta flights, particularly bulldogs, which are susceptible to respiratory problems.

In most cases, pet deaths are not caused by mishandling but because the pets run into health issues in the cargo hold environment, Delta said. The Humane Society of the United States recommends not transporting pets by air “unless absolutely necessary” because of the risks.

By Julie Flanders, Best Friends Network volunteer

http://network.bestfriends.org/18039/news.aspx

Never say never as “unadoptable” cat joins loving family, along with a surprise

We often hear that some animals are “unadoptable.” They have too many health problems, or behavioral issues, or special needs. It’s not their fault, but they simply can’t be adopted. Or so conventional wisdom would have us believe. But that’s the thing about conventional wisdom. Sometimes, it’s very wrong.

Tashi the cat, who was rescued in Ohio, where he was found paralyzed and in pain, and later moved to Tabby’s Place in Ringoes, New Jersey, thanks to a dedicated group of Network volunteers known as the Tashi Fan Club

If ever there was an “unadoptable” cat, it was Tashi, who was not only paralyzed, but also incontinent. But something amazing happened in January, 2012. The supposedly unadoptable Tashi was adopted, and found his forever home.

Rori Weidner, who lives about 45 minutes away from Ringoes in Pennsylvania, first learned about Tashi through the Tabby’s Place website. She and her family had recently lost their beloved cat Tayo, who despite being blind, deaf, and epileptic, had lived to be 21 years old. The family was crushed by the loss of Tayo, and felt strongly that they wanted to welcome another special needs cat into their family. The Weidners have extensive experience caring for special needs pets as, in addition to Tayo, their 11 year old cat Priscilla suffers from severe asthma and ulcerative colitis.

Rori states that when she and the rest of her family saw Tashi on the Tabby’s Place site they were immediately taken with him, and decided to fill out an adoption form. A few days later, they made plans to visit Tabby’s and tour the facility, and meet Tashi the Terrific in person.

The tour of the facility turned out to yield quite a surprise, and an unexpected result. Rori describes the tour this way:

“After seeing many of the other cats we finally came to Tashi and when we saw him it was love at first sight for all of us!! He is just so special with such a full of life personality that you cannot help but fall in love with him! We did continue with our tour and came upon another special needs cat named Gabriella who has severe cerebellar hypoplasia. Well now we all fell in love with her too. So here we all are thinking we know we love Tashi, but now there is Gabriella too! So we started thinking Tashi or Gabriella, Tashi or Gabriella … we all knew right at that very moment that we could never choose one and leave the other behind, so we decided to adopt them both.”

In a remarkable turn of events, Tashi not only got to go to his forever home, he also got to bring his friend Gabriella along with him! And best of all, not one, but two, special needs cats found their very own family to love.

Rori says that she could not be happier with the decision to adopt both Tashi and Gabriella. She states:

“Bringing both of these precious little angels into our lives has made each and every day more and more joyous for myself and my whole family! Tashi is an absolute joy to be around! He is the most intelligent, clever, loving and sometimes silly … actually a lot of the time silly, cats I have ever had the pleasure of having in my family! He brightens our day with the love he gives us! Gabriella is also the light of our lives! She is such a sweet and gentle little angel! She loves to be held and cuddled and is so affectionate. Both Tashi and Gabriella are the very best of friends too which makes it all the more wonderful!! Even our two other cats, Sammy and Priscilla welcomed them right away and everyone is getting along so nicely just like one big happy family!”

So there you have it. After just over three wonderful years in the care of the Tabby’s Place angels, Tashi the “unadoptable” cat found his forever home, complete with both human and feline siblings and best friends. Tashi needed the help of a host of special people from Ohio to New Jersey to Pennsylvania, but in the end, he found himself right where he belongs.

Enjoy your new life, Tashi!

http://voices.yahoo.com/crazy-canines-five-reasons-dogs-chase-their-tails-10904657.html

Why do dogs run in circles and chase their own tails? This dizzying behavior makes dog lovers curious. What could possibly cause a canine to twirl around this way, nipping at part of his own anatomy?

At least five causes may lead canines to trail their own tails.

1. Boredom

Natural predators, dogs often seem to operate on two speeds: asleep and alert. A canine may catch sight of his own wagging tail and suddenly jump up to give chase. This game also offers relief from boredom, particularly for a non-working or off-duty dog or a canine confined for too long.  This sort of tail chasing may signal the dog’s owner to the pet’s need for increased exercise.

2. Desire for attention

Along with the need for activity, dogs require affection and attention from their humans. Without this, a canine may resort to tail chasing, especially if this behavior has drawn petting or treats in the past.

3. Anxiety

Some dogs begin chasing their tails as a nervous habit. Stressful situations, sudden noises or constant surprises may even lead to obsessive compulsive tail chasing, as the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) points out.

4. Itching or irritation

Occasionally, a physical problem may cause a dog to chase his tail. Parasite infestations, such as fleas or ticks, can cause itching around the base of the canine’s tail. Worms, rashes or dry skin may produce similar symptoms. A professional dog grooming or veterinary visit may be necessary.

5. Medical issues

Certain dog diseases and neurological disorders like epilepsy may encourage tail chasing. In such cases, the underlying veterinary medical concerns must be addressed before a dog may be trained to stop chasing his tail.

Tail chasing is a common habit for dogs, according to veterinary experts, even if it confounds humans. If you are bothered by your dog’s taking off to run rings after his own tail, you can try to distract or occupy him by playing with him, taking him for a peppy walk, or offering him a favorite toy or treat. Under no circumstances should you pull the dog’s tail to encourage chasing.

Frequently, dogs naturally outgrow the whirling weirdness of chasing their own tails in time.

Of course, a dog that suddenly becomes obsessed with his tail may need veterinary attention.

What Is Urinary Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence occurs when a housetrained dog loses control of its bladder. This can range in severity from dribbling after urination, leaking urine when sleeping, urinating small amounts all day long or the unintentional release of a large amount of urine.  This is not a behavior issue, it is a medical one, and your pet cannot control its effects.

Although urinary incontinence can afflict dogs of any age, breed or gender, it is most often seen in middle-aged to older spayed females.  Spayed Cocker Spaniels, Springer Spaniels, Doberman Pinschers and Old English Sheepdogs are among the breeds often prone to incontinence.  An estimated 2 million female dogs between the ages of 6 and 10, in the United States alone, are affected by this condition.

Symptoms

Dribbling of urine

Finding of wet spots where the pet was sleeping

Irritated skin from contact with urine

Excessive licking of the vulva or penis area

 Causes

• Neurogenic causes of incontinence include those that are caused by abnormalities of parts of the nervous system involved in regulation of urination.

• Non-neurogenic causes of incontinence include congenital problems (abnormalities present at birth) hormone-responsive incontinence, and urinary tract infection

When seen in older dogs, however, incontinence is most often a natural part of aging, and might occur when your elderly pet is excited, gets up and down or simply from not being able to get up “in time.”

Additional factors can cause incontinence: The presence of other diseases that cause excessive water consumption, such as diabetes, kidney disease, hyperadrenocorticism  and  certain medications.

Diagnosis & Treatment

Consult your veterinarian, to confirm the diagnosis and determine a cause. Your vet will take a thorough history, perform a physical exam and likely conduct a urinalysis, urine culture, blood work, radiographs and ultrasound.

Some bouts of urinary incontinence ebb and wane, but others can progress and cause more serious bladder and kidney infections.  A skin infection may result in areas that are in constant contact with urine.

There is no cure for incontinence.  Treatment for incontinence will depend on its underlying cause. Medications can often effectively manage this condition and prevent everyday accidents. Some treatments focus on hormone therapy, while others strengthen the bladder muscles that control urine flow.  Traditionally, drugs containing phenylpropanolamine (PPA) have been used to increase the smooth muscle tone of the bladder and urethra to help control the flow of urine. This class of drugs is not hormone-based. PPA was used in human medications for colds and for appetite suppression (weight loss), but has been removed from the human OTC market.

On July 27, 2011 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first hormone-based incontinence drug for dogs, called Incurin. This drug is a natural estrogen hormone, and is labeled only for hormone-responsive incontinence in female dogs.

Surgery may be an option if medication alone doesn’t work.

Collagen injections may be an option.

COPING

Have patience.  You know that your dog is not at fault  and understand it’s certainly not something they can control, but cleaning up after “accidents” can be time consuming and stressful .  Whatever you do, don’t punish your incontinent dog for any “accidents”.  In addition to working with your veterinarian on a treatment protocol, the following tips can make life a little easier for you and your incontinent pet:

Although you may be tempted to limit your pet’s water intake, be sure to ask your vet first as this may not be recommended

In the initial stages of treatment, you may need to confine your dog to an area of the house that can be cleaned easily. Laundry rooms are a good option.

Cover your dog’s favorite sleeping spot with blankets and towels that can easily be laundered. You may also want to put a waterproof pad under your dog’s bedding, just in case.

Take your dog for more frequent walks, including first thing in the morning and shortly after they wake from a nap.

Canine-sized diapers are available to help prevent messes in the home

Provide proper hygiene to prevent any related skin infections.   Clean the skin around the urethral opening to help prevent urine scalding from leakage.

Always monitor your pet’s condition, since it can quickly accelerate to infection, especially in elderly dogs.

Sources: February 2012

Urinary Incontinence in Dogs  by AniMed.org   petdoc.com

 http://petdoc.com/story/urinary-incontinence-dogs

ASPCA: Urinary Incontinence  

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/dog-care-urinary-incontinence.aspx

Urinary Incontinence, Drs. Foster & Smith 

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?c=3307&articleid=237&category=608

FDA Approves First Drug to Treat Urinary Incontinence in Female Dogs By Janet Tobiassen Crosby, DVM, July 28, 2011

http://vetmedicine.about.com/b/2011/07/28/fda-approves-first-drug-to-treat-urinary-incontinence-in-female-dogs.htmVetmedicine.about.

Urinary Incontinence in Dogs By: Dr. Debra Primovic

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/urinary-incontinence-in-dogs/page1.aspx

http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/great-dane-rescues-his-owner-and-changes-the-lives-of-other-abuse-victims-with-pets

Last year, when a 110-pound Great Dane leapt between a woman and the man who was beating her with a hammer, he not only saved the woman’s life — but he’ll likely save the lives of many other victims of domestic abuse by inspiring a big change in policy at one shelter in Kansas City, Mo.

Whether due to instinct, loyalty or bravery, J. Matthew the Great Dane responded to his owner’s screams by lying on top of her and absorbing the hammer’s blows, sustaining broken ribs and a broken hip during the attack. At the urging of police, the woman called the Rose Brooks Center, a local shelter that accepts women and children — but not pets.

The woman told the center that she’d rather sleep in the car with her dog than abandon him or leave the dog with her former boyfriend. In fact, statistics show that many women will stay with abusers or put off leaving dangerous situations because they worry about what will happen to their pets.

Staff at the Rose Brooks Center faced a dilemma: Bend the rules or leave the woman in a vulnerable place. The center not only broke the rules, but it just broke ground on a $140,000, pet-friendly wing for families that features seven kennels for pets — all thanks to one truly great Great Dane